Transcription contributed by Arne H Trelvik 19 September 2005

Page
967

JAMES BOWYER, Mason, Ohio. Our subject was born in Warren Co., Ohio, Dec. 9, 1810. His educational privileges were few, yet they planted in him an energetic disposition. For some five years of his early life he spent in boating on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. On June 9, 1836, he married Mary Ann Seward, of Mason. This marriage was indeed a happy one, being blessed by a family of nine children-three sons and six daughters-Cythera, born May 13, 1837, and married James Kendall Aug. 30, 1855; Florella, born Oct. 27, 1838, married T. J. Armstrong in 1859, who died in 1862; she married M. O. Adams in 1865; Selecta, born Nov. 28, 1840, married W. Hall in 1863, who died in 1872; she married Albert Buckingham in 1872; Eli, born March 4, 1843; Adrew, born Aug. 16, 1846, married Flora Lang in 1872; Wellington, born March 12, 1848; Leora, born Feb. 3, 1851; Francisco, born Nov. 29, 1853, married George Holdon in 1876; Ida, born Jan. 20, 1857, married, 1878, Arthur Lacy. Eli, the oldest son, served in the late war, in the 4th O. V. C., and was drowned in the Ohio River Oct. 19, 1865; his body was found by some fishermen below Cincinnati, and was identified by his discharge papers, found upon his person; this bereavement was especially sad to the family from the fact that no clue to the accident has ever been found; the postmortem examination of the body gave rise, however, to the suspicion of foul play. Mrs. Bowyer died Nov. 15, 1864; she was a woman loved by all for her kind disposition, and while with the family she was kindly beloved by all of them; she was connected for many years with the Universalist denomination. Mr. Bowyer married for his second wife Miss H. A. Cline, of Mason, on Dec. 28, 1865. For some fifteen years, he was connected with the Ohio Light Infantry, in which he held various positions, from Sergeant up to Colonel. The greater part of his life has been spent upon the farm; his uprightness, generosity and kindness won for him the esteem of all. Prosperity has been the fruit of his striving aim. Besides helping his children, he has as a reserve, for the comfort of his old days, a farm of some 360 acres of fine land west of Mason; on this he has an extensive tile factory, which has been of much benefit to the country round. His father was John Bowyer, born in Pennsylvania, near the Red Stone Country, June 6, 1786; his wife was Jane Sheplar, born May 18, 1794. Mrs. Bowyer died Feb. 18, 1860; Mr. Bowyer, in March, 1864. Their family record is as follows: James, born in 1810; Hannah, in 1814; Levi, in 1816,